Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Mary Gray, Director of Rehabilitation at HealthPartners, about falls and fall prevention.

Mary oversees rehabilitation services across HealthPartners’ community-based hospitals and clinics, including cardiac rehabilitation. A licensed physical therapist with 27 years of experience, she brings deep expertise and passion for geriatrics—particularly fall prevention, dementia and age-friendly care, osteoporosis management, and frailty. Beyond her professional work, Mary is also a caregiver to her 95-year-old father living with dementia, giving her both clinical and personal insight into the realities of aging and safety.

Join us for an enlightening discussion about falls and fall prevention, and stay tuned to gain fresh perspectives on how proactive, age-friendly strategies can help older adults stay safe, independent, and thriving.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Steve Kopecky, Professor of Medicine and Preventive Cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, about blood pressure and the updated guidelines.

Dr. Kopecky is a consultant and chair of education in the Division of Preventive Cardiology within the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He also serves as director of the Familial Hypercholesterolemia Clinic, Statin Intolerance Clinic, and the Cardiovascular Emergency Department Consult Service. A nationally and internationally recognized leader in cardiovascular disease prevention, Dr. Kopecky’s work focuses on the role of lifestyle in heart health and innovative treatments for elevated cholesterol, particularly in patients with genetic risk factors. He is the best-selling author of Live Younger Longer: 6 Steps to Prevent Heart Disease, Cancer, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, and More, has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Heart Health.

Join us for an enlightening discussion about what the new blood pressure guidelines mean for patients and clinicians, and stay tuned to gain fresh perspectives on how prevention, lifestyle, and early intervention can improve long-term heart health.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Ellie Wilson, Executive Director of the Autism Society of Minnesota, about Autism Spectrum Disorder and the evolving landscape of support across the lifespan.

Ellie Wilson brings two decades of experience supporting children, teens, and adults on the autism spectrum. With a background in public health administration and policy, Ellie has completed advanced fellowships through Minnesota LEND (Leadership and Education in Neuro-Developmental Disabilities) and the National Institute of Educational Leadership. Her work spans recreation programs, K–12 and post-secondary education, emergency response systems, clinical and therapeutic settings, and community living environments. Ellie is widely recognized for building energized, collaborative partnerships that strengthen inclusion, acceptance, and equitable access for individuals with autism and other disabilities.

Learn more about Ellie's and Autism Society of Minnesota's work here

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. Ronda Marie Chakolis-Hassan, President of the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy, and Dr. Ai-Ja Jackson, pharmacist, about Medication Management—and explore the central question: “Should we just medicate?”

Dr. Ronda Marie Chakolis-Hassan, PharmD, MPH, exemplifies the intersection of clinical expertise and public health advocacy in pharmacy practice. An alum of the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, her diverse career spans 15 years in Pharmacy Benefit Management and over 5 years as a Medication Therapy Management pharmacist in community practice. Her commitment to healthcare equity shines through her work addressing infant mortality, opioid abuse prevention, and her service on the Minnesota Department of Human Services Drug Formulary Committee, where she helps shape medication access policies across the state.

Join us for an enlightening discussion about when medication is the right solution—and when it might not be.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Susan Mau Larson, Chief Administrative Officer at LifeSource, and Sarah Sonn, Director of Communications at LifeSource, about life saving organ donation.

Susan Mau Larson has spent her career leading strategic and policy efforts to strengthen organ donation systems nationwide and support donor families through the process. She has held leadership roles across national donation advocacy and public education organizations.

Sarah Sonn leads communications at LifeSource and focuses on public education, storytelling, and community partnerships to increase donor registration and address misinformation.

Join us for an insightful conversation about how every individual and institution plays a role in making life saving organ donations possible.

Find out more about LifeSource's life saving work here.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat about retirement and health.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, and the Health Chatter team chat about the profound role friendships play in our overall health and well-being.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/

Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Dr. David Alter, psychologist, author, teacher, and explorer, about mindfulness, meditation and health.

Dr. Alter has more than 35 years of experience as a clinician, educator, trainer, and researcher. His career spans clinical practice, international teaching, and authorship of books and peer-reviewed articles. Beyond psychology, he is also an adventurer and photographer, using his lens to explore humanity’s shared heritage and our deep connections to nature. At the heart of his work is a passion for understanding relationships—within our biological systems, between brain, mind, body, and environment, and how these connections influence health and healing. He is also the co-host of the podcast Trance-forming Relationships.

Join us for an enlightening discussion about the role of mindfulness meditation in promoting health, and stay tuned to gain fresh perspectives on the healing power of connection.

Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com

Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.

More about their work can be found at https://www.huemanpartnershipalliance.org/